Nicki Sorensen takes Stage 12

Danish cyclist Nicki Sorensen of the Saxo Bank team took victory in yesterday's Stage 12 between Tonnerre and Vittel on a day when most of the main challengers for honours were happy to rest in the peloton.

Mark Cavendish continued his push to win the green jersey for points by taking an intermediate sprint victory and with a perfectly timed run-in that saw him pip main rival Thor Hushovd on the line to increase his lead to 10 points over the Norwegian.

The race for the maillot jaune remained unchanged, as Rinaldo Nocentini retained the overall lead, with Astana's Alberto Contador and Lance in second and third, just six and eight seconds behind the Italian. Britain's Bradley Wiggins held onto fifth place, 46 seconds off the front.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
Richard Williams, the Guardian: "Since long before the 2009 Tour de France began, Mark Cavendish has maintained that winning stages and reaching Paris for the first time constitute the sum of his ambitions. The points leader's green jersey, he often said, was for the future. Today, on a long, hot stage through vineyards and wheat fields from the Yonne to the Vosges, he changed tack. Clearly Cavendish is of a mind, having proved his ability to beat all his competitors in a straight sprint, to show that he can hold the experienced Hushovd at bay and become the first British rider to wear the jersey on the podium in the Champs-Elysees a week on Sunday night."

Chris Barrett, Daily Telegraph: "With more than 200km of racing yesterday over gently rolling terrain, the attacks came thick and fast in a first hour, in which the peloton completed an impressive 48km. However, none of those attempts were allowed to leave the peloton’s clutches until the 64km mark, when a six-man group formed. Sorensen, sensing that this was the decisive point, pulled away from the main bunch to try to join the breakaway group, who were allowed to go on ahead unhindered and soon built a five-minute lead. With 5km to go, Sorensen then pulled away, leaving the fading Sylvain Calzati to be submerged by the chasing pack, which included Rinaldo Nocentini, who retained the yellow jersey, seven-time champion Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador."

Jeremy Whittle, the Times: "With the Alpine stages on the horizon, Cavendish and his Columbia-HTC team-mates were, for once, happy to let a breakaway group ride clear, but the 24-year-old from the Isle of Man was vigilant enough to lead home the main group of riders, shadowing Sorensen and the escapees over the line. By taking eighth place at the head of the peloton, Cavendish, winner of four stages in this year’s race, emphasised his superiority over close rival Thor Hushovd. Cavendish will now seek to survive the mountains between the Vosges and Provence. However, there may be further opportunities to win one of the remaining stages: the prestigious race finish on the Champs Elysees may suit the Briton."